Some Grant Deadlines

Grant season is approaching. A couple dates to keep in mind:

Getty Architectural Conservation Implementation Grant
$250,000 maximum
Deadline: April 1, 2006

Save America's Treasures Grant
$700,000 maximum Federal share
Deadline: April 18, 2006

Also, some loan programs:

National Trust Historic Preservation Loan
$350,000 maximum

Maryland Historical Trust Historic Preservation Loan
up to $300,000

You might also want to check into the Baltimore Community Foundation, Goldseker Foundation, the France-Merrick Foundation, the Abell Foundation, or a whole host of other local and regional philanthropic organizations. They have $$$, too!

New Posts to Rochambeau, St. Paul

Be sure to check out the Save the Rochambeau and Saint Paul sites. Links to previous newspaper articles and info on upcoming meetings of the Maryland Health Care Commission.

Looooocalllll

In anticipation of the increased competition likely to come with the debut of the Baltimore Examiner local (and free) newspaper, the Friday Sun now dedicates more ink to local news. Here are some of the changes readers can expect in the expanded section B:

local will now be spelled looooocalllll
neighborhood will be neighborhoodneighborhood
Baltimore will be BaltimorecharmcitythecitythatreadsthegreatestcityinAmerica

Preservationists are encouraged to contact the Sun with suggestions on how they'd like for the words in their industry to appear in print. Oh, and start chatting up the Baltimore Examiner people, too.

Planning's My New Best Friend

The Sun reports today that the city's Planning Department is one step closer to finalizing a master plan for the city. Of course, the big mystery is the allowable height of new buildings along Charles Street in Mount Vernon. The city promises to post the master plan online at the LiveEarnPlayLearn website.

Just Imagine

Can't you just see a restored Rochambeau lighting up Charles and Franklin Streets? Look at that cornice! And the entrance portico with lampposts is pretty cool, too. Where is Streuver Bros. when you need them? Read what prelateofpreservation has to say about where things stand. Time's running out: We have a June 8 deadline!

Remember When?

Gosh. Don't old photos just take you back? One of my favorites is this one from way back in 2003 showing the Tranny Station when it was simply the Train Station, that is, before Baltimore's tallest transsexual parked his/her behind on Penn Station Plaza.

In other news...

The Sun is full of so much interesting stuff today that it took me 5 minutes instead of the usual 3 to read it from cover to cover. Be sure to look at the piece about bicycle lanes, the editorial about the Baltimore city and county tax credits, and the Letter to the Editor regarding the Tallest Tranny. Also, a new Save the Rochambeau site has sprung. Contact Brad if you have any old photos or new or pertinent information you'd like to post to the site.

The West is Blessed

These days it seems everybody's "blessed"..."blessed" with good health, "blessed" with good health insurance, a good hairdresser, a new car, a tax refund... But, can a neighborhood be "blessed"? The Sun reports today that critic James Kunstler temporarily stopped ranting about the nation's architectural and planning foibles in order to lavish heavenly praise upon Baltimore's West Side. Never mind that he posted it on his website about a month ago...

Etes-vous prets?

Why tiptoe when you can just jump right in? Old Warrior starts the ball rolling on a matter of great concern to the Baltimore preservation community: The fate of the 300 block of Saint Paul Place. Read what OW has to say on Save Saint Paul.

Secret Meeting of Preservationists

Not really. But considering how quiet everyone's been regarding the Fifth Annual Forum on Historic Preservation Practice slated for March 23-25 at Goucher College, I have to wonder why more hasn't been done to promote this great event beyond the usual channels. If interested, you can find the brochure and registration form buried deep within the Goucher College website.

New CHAP Chair Announced. Again.

The Baltimore Sun today reported what had been rumoured for months and announced at last December's CHAP hearing... that Tyler Gearhart, the executive director of Preservation Maryland, has been appointed by the Mayor to be the new CHAP Chair.

Is the Sun always the last to know?

Happy New Year...

Here's what's new for 2006:

• Save Saint Paul: Historic 300 block at risk